Oil leaking our of "weep hole" in Alpha 1 lower unit.

[Shooter B]

I replaced the water pump assembly in the lower unit of my MerCruiser Alpha 1 sterndrive. The boat was running too warm so I decided to investigate and found the water pump trashed. Put in an entire new kit, lubed everything up and installed the lower end back on the drive. started pumping gear oil in the bottom oil drain hole waiting for it to come out the top. It never did! Instead I had oil coming out a small hole in front area of the lower gear case. what gives? Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ben.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Did you remember the small O ring between the units?

 

[Shooter B]

Absolutely. Put a new one in that came with the water pump kit.

 

[tlewis1]

Take it apart again and make sure it's still there and didn't fall out. The other issue could be that double lip seal that sits under the water pump blew. Either way your taking it apart again and I would recommend doing a pressure test on the unit before filling with gear oil....

 

[Shooter B]

Thanks for the insight. The seal below the water pump is new, came with the kit. It included the entire housing, top and bottom. I guess I don't have a choice in that it comes apart again. It's kind of funny because I bought this lower unit about 4 years ago as "reconditioned". I installed it at the time, filled up the outdrive and it's been fine up to this spring when it needed a water pump. I sure wish I knew more about these critters.

 

[Bt Doctur]

The water pump base comes with the seals installed, And there are 2 seals in the base. Sounds like you install is a bit strange if it was not leaking before you did the work and now it is.Do you have the manual link for the drive?

 

[Bt Doctur]

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6C3R3.PDF

 

[achris]

Remove the WHOLE drive from the boat. Sit it on a stand, pressure test it and fill it BEFORE you put it back on the boat. Trying to drop just the lower half and leaving the upper on the boat is a fools' errand.

And as the engine ran without water, CHECK (and pressure test), very thoroughly, the water pocket cover in the bottom of the top housing.

Chris....